Received: 21st Sept-2012 Revised: 27th Sept-2012 Accepted: 29th Mar-2013 Research article ERIOCAULON KANNURENSE (ERIOCAULACEAE), A NEW SPECIES FROM KERALA, INDIA C. N. Sunil2, M. K. Ratheesh Narayanan1*, M. K. Nandakumar1, Sujana K. A.3, Jayesh P. Joseph1 and N. Anil Kumar1 1M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Puthoorvayal P. O., Kalpetta, Wayanad, Kerala, India – 673121, Ph. +91 (0)4936 204477, Tele fax: +91 (0)4936 207019. 2SNM College, Moothakunnam, Maliankrara P.O., Ernakulam, Kerala, India– 683 516. Ph. +91 (0)484- 2482386, Tele fax: +91 (0)484 2483600. 3Botanical Survey of India, Central Botanical Laboratory, AJCB Indian Botanical Garden, Botanical garden P. O., Howrah, West Bengal, India – 711103, Ph. +91 (0)33 2668 5771, Tele fax: +91 (0)33 2668 3163. 1*Present address: Department of Botany, Payyanur College, Edat P.O., Payyanur, Kannur Dist. – 670 327, Kerala, India. Email.
[email protected]. ABSTRACT: Eriocaulon kannurense Sunil, Ratheesh & Nandakumar (Eriocaulaceae), a new species from the Kannur District, Kerala, India, is described and illustrated. The species is allied to Eriocaulon setaceum and E. capillus-naiadis in its submerged aquatic habit and elongated stem bearing filiform leaves, but differs mainly in having split sheath limb, white coloured heads and anther and isodiametric cells of seed coat without appendages. Key words: Eriocaulon, Eriocaulaceae, India, Kannur, Kerala, Laterite hill INTRODUCTION The genus Eriocaulon L. (Eriocaulaceae) with about 400 species [7] is distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Linnaeus [5] , while establishing this genus described four species of which three were from India. Ma et al. (2000) made a treatment for Eriocaulaceae in China and provided a detailed account of 35 species including a submerged aquatic herb.